[Uchiha Clan Grounds]
When Rengoku returned carrying Hinata and Hanabi, he didn't go back to Fugaku's mansion.
Instead, he went to the residence where Karin and the others lived.
The children that Rengoku had taken in were basically all settled in this same area.
Shion, Hotaru, Haku, and the others were here too.
However, the others were still taking the Forest of Death exam, so only Karin was around.
"Rinjin, find a room next to Karin's place for them. From now on, these two will live here as well."
Rinjin was a bit dazed. Although he didn't know Hanabi, he definitely recognized Hinata.
'Why had the clan head brought children of the Hyuga clan into the Uchiha clan?'
'And this is even the Hyuga main family's eldest daughter!'
'Does Hiashi know about this?'
Rinjin hesitated for a few seconds, wanting to ask something, but held it back.
Rengoku gave him a glance, seeming to know exactly what he was about to ask, "The Hyuga clan no longer has a distinction between main and branch families."
"Because of the main family, except for these two, everyone else is dead."
Rinjin's mouth fell open, his shock like a frog croaking with its mouth wide in summer.
"The Hyuga… main family, all dead?", Rinjin repeated the words in stunned disbelief.
Rengoku patted Rinjin on the shoulder, "You'll understand the details later. For now, just arrange a room for these two sisters."
"Yes!", Rinjin quickly accepted the order and left.
"Karin!", Rengoku knew that at this time, Karin was probably working on sealing technique homework.
"Ah! Shishou, I'm coming!"
Hearing Rengoku call her, Karin immediately hopped out from inside the house.
In this Chunin Exam, aside from Kimimaro and Haku, Karin's performance was the best.
If her opponents weren't Rengoku's own clones, they'd probably have all escaped.
Although it took Karin some time to complete the formation, without question, her ability had already far surpassed that of an ordinary Chunin.
She could easily qualify as a special Jonin.
But ability and combat power weren't the same thing.
Even though Karin's physical growth was already that of someone over sixteen, her stamina and chakra reserves weren't something normal special Jonin could compare to.
However, her inner core was still too small. After all, she was still just a ten-year-old child.
Rengoku wasn't planning to promote her to Chunin yet, but rather wanted her to take some time to stabilize.
Seeing Rengoku holding Hinata and Hanabi, Karin looked a bit confused.
"Shishou, why are Hinata and Hanabi here?"
"The Hyuga branch family staged a coup and overthrew the main family's rule. Other than these two, all members of the main family are dead."
"Ah?", Karin's small mouth opened slightly, her expression dazed.
"Hinata and Hanabi fainted when they saw Hiashi's corpse."
"Since Hinata is Itachi's student and still young, she was spared. Her little sister Hanabi came along as well."
"From now on, they'll be living in the clan. I've arranged a room for them next to your place. Keep an eye on them for me."
"When they wake up and their emotions settle down, call me over."
At the addition of new companions, Karin's reaction was calm.
After all, this wasn't the first time Rengoku had brought people back to the Uchiha.
"Leave it to me, Shishou! I'll take good care of them!"
At that moment, Rinjin came back, "Clan head, the room is ready."
Rengoku handed Hinata and Hanabi to him, "Put them in the room first. I'll have Karin come over shortly."
"Once they're settled, conceal your presence and notify Tsunade to come."
"Yes, clan head," Rinjin carried the two girls and quickly left.
———
After Rengoku departed, the Hyuga clan continued working for several more hours before they finally finished cleaning up the scene.
A large number of Hyuga members, after learning the unified story they would give to outsiders, returned to their posts, positions within Konoha.
"Lord Aoto, the main family, including Hiashi and the three elders, total of thirty-five bodies."
"Hinata and Hanabi were taken away by Lord Rengoku."
"The remaining thirty-three, aside from three main family youths who didn't attend the clan meeting, all others are dead."
"Our branch family lost forty-four people: Sota, Yuto, Motou, Shuji, Asahi, Kei… forty-four in total."
In fact, when Hiashi died, the branch family had already secured victory.
Because the Caged Bird Seal level used on the remaining main family members couldn't kill them directly.
But when the branch family attacked, those marked by the seal had no power to resist once the curse activated.
The branch family had to rely on returning members from outside, overwhelming the main family heirs with sheer numbers and hidden weapons.
If not for that constant relay of fighters, and the main family having no weapons, the branch family's casualties would've been far higher.
Aoto snorted coldly, "Execute those three main family youths. Remove their Byakugan and preserve them properly."
"Yes!"
Though they were just boys, these three had none of the value that Hinata and Hanabi did. Naturally, death was their only fate.
Aoto stood up, lifting the cloth that covered the corpses.
Only Sota's hands and feet remained intact. Yuto's head and half an arm were all that was left.
Motou's body was the most complete, just a gaping hole at the back of his skull.
Shuji's death was the most gruesome; the explosive tags on him were of the highest yield, his entire body was blown to fragments.
Not a single complete piece could be found, only bits of remains.
They had to use special methods just to identify them at all.
By comparison, the branch members who fought the main family, even if they were killed, at least left a whole corpse.
Such a chance didn't come easy, and Sota hadn't been able to inform everyone right away.
So, long beforehand, Sota and the others had already made their plan.
When the green signal flare rose into the sky, that was the moment the rebellion would begin.
Aoto's responsibility was with the security division that had split from the Uchiha side last time.
The patrol area wasn't too far from the Hyuga compound.
But by the time he rushed back, all he could do was kill the remaining main family heirs.
Because according to plan, until Sota and the others were all dead, no one else could approach.
After all, no one else could carry that many explosive tags on their bodies.
From the start, Sota and his group had already decided: if they couldn't win, then they'd make sure to take their enemies with them even in death.
Aoto looked down at the mangled corpses before him, feeling a deep sense of emptiness and confusion.
He was actually about the same age as Sota, just a bit over twenty.
But now, within the clan, he was the only one left with a clear head.
Wiping the tears hard from his face, he ordered his clansmen:
"Release all messenger birds. Inform every branch family member of what's happened. Tell them to return to the clan as soon as possible."
"Have Cho, Hideaki, Hitomi, and Tsukihiko abandon their missions and come back immediately."
"Send someone to wait for Neji. Once he finishes his exam, bring him home."
"Anyone from our clan serving in Konoha who's died in this, replace them at once."
Aoto issued one command after another. It might not have been perfect, but it at least gave the branch family a backbone to rely on.
This would be the hardest period. Once the older members returned, the clan could stabilize again.
Aoto looked at Sota's body, grief thick in his eyes.
'Lord Sota, from now on, we are no longer slaves.'
'We are… free.'
'It's a pity, you won't be here to see it…'
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